The Daughter Trilogy Bundle

by C. M. Owens

  My lungs are exhausted from the erratic breathing, and my legs are wobbly from the unexpected reunion.

  I pop my head back as Kry steps on the gas and the ocean stands still before my eyes as we head to the marina.

  I can see the name Aphrodisia on the back of a yacht, and my stomach twists into knots. The gallant sea beast has been named after me. Why is he doing this to me?

  I slump down in the seat and try to sink below the awkward tension thickening the air around us.

  "We need to head out to sea for a while so Theia can relax and clean up the beach scene," Phillip grumbles.

  I can tell he's not pleased with me, but then again, like father like son. Devin has yet to make eye contact with me, and he's like a fifteen-year-old on his phone.

  "I've got the first draft drawn up. I'll see you below," Devin murmurs to Phillip as he heads into the cabin.

  I stand at the front of the nose and contemplate jumping into the water and swimming away.

  "Don't jump," Deacon snickers out.

  Kry walks up and props up on the railing beside me to give me a very disapproving glare.

  I roll my eyes as I huff, "Can we please skip the grueling lectures? I get it. I scared everyone. Shame on me for having a freak out."

  Camara's voice growls from behind, "Shame on you indeed. I've nearly worn the animals in the world ragged trying to pick up your scent. I've slept for three days straight to make up for all the exerted energy."

  I tilt my head curiously at her phrasing.

  "You found me three days ago?"

  She squirms uncomfortably, and Deacon rolls his eyes at Camara's slip.

  "We've been trying to make sure you didn't stir up any trouble or attract attention to yourself. I freaked out a bit when I found out you were in LA. That place is crawling with our kind, and they're very territorial. How did you make it out?" Deacon says in an effort to change the subject.

  "Don't know how they didn't catch her scent," Kry whispers to himself, and then he squirms uncomfortably.

  I feel like I'm missing something, but I ignore the comment he hadn't intended for me to hear before answering Deacon's question.

  "I left after I saw the first fifteen with swirling eyes. No one ever knew who I was. I've kept my sunglasses on the entire time. Hale was the first one to spot me, and technically he cheated since he was sent to spy on me," I pout while finally removing my dark sunglasses.

  "Protect," Hale interjects. "I was sent to protect you."

  "Fine job you did. Devin had to bail you out from what I saw," Deacon snorts in distaste for the blond babe.

  "I wasn't expecting Paul to show up. He's intense, and Serena's just crazy," he blubbers.

  "Well, now Adisia is back with us. Let's just be grateful this is all over," Camara sighs.

  "Helios beach bum," Deacon grumbles.

  Hale cuts his eyes at him, and Camara splits them up like they're children. I look around at all the familiar faces that are usually in attendance, but there's a few missing - Gemma and her parents.

  Devin emerges from the cabin with Phillip following him. They carry on a whispered conversation while staring out at the sea. Phillip drops back down below deck, and Theia follows him to start cleaning everything up.

  Ther walks up to whisper with Devin in Phillip's absence. I glower at his back, and I seize the opportunity to remind him I haven't forgotten the reason I left, even if I have been forced to rejoin.

  "I'm surprised Gemma hasn't capitalized on her successful plan to rip us apart. Where is she? Out ripping my face from the frames before she moves in?" I snark.

  Devin winces slightly at my vicious remark. It's the first reaction he's had to my presence thus far.

  "She's not part of our group anymore. She's still a member of our protective circle, but she's not allowed to join us unless absolutely necessary," Kry announces with a touch of anger.

  Devin leans over the rail, and Ther mimics his action as they continue on with their private conversation.

  "Oh. There's no reason for Devin to exclude her after the fact. That's like getting a vaccine after you get sick. It's pointless," I grumble.

  "It wasn't just Devin. We voted on the matter, and it was almost unanimous. No one trusts someone who will pull something like that - during a time as sensitive as that was, especially. We limit the amount of conflict within our group to prevent a separation. She was causing too much conflict," Kry explains.

  Oh.

  "I shouldn't be here. I'm going to be nothing but conflict. I've been nothing but conflict since I got here. I swear Aphrodite was the embodiment of drama instead of love," I gripe.

  Devin seems to wince again, and Hale's mouth drops open.

  "What? She's a daughter of Aphrodite and no one told me? What the hell?" Hale screeches.

  Devin walks over and violently shoves him into a seat.

  "What are you doing? Keep your voice down. That could have been heard for miles," he warns.

  Hale holds his hands up innocently as he speaks much lower.

  "Sorry. It just caught me off guard. Why didn't you tell me?"

  Devin rolls his eyes. "You know why," he grumbles, and then he flashes back over to Ther.

  I cross my arms over my chest in protest.

  "Why?" I huff with the frustration from always feeling left out.

  "Because he's a Helios," Deacon says as if it's some sort of explanation.

  "And?" I mumble rudely.

  "She doesn't have a clue what that means," Hale huffs with an offended tone.

  I swear I see a slight smirk come to Devin's face, but I don't know if it's because he's listening in.

  "Helios was the embodiment of the sun," Deacon sighs.

  "Yeah. I got that part. So what?" I retort.

  This time Devin turns his back to me completely when his smirk broadens. He is listening in, but what's so comical?

  "The sun is an aphrodisiac to most, especially immortals. Helios descendents tend to drip sex appeal," Deacon mumbles with a grouchy tone.

  Camara giggles slightly as she inspects Hale a little closer, and Deacon steps in front of her to cut off her view.

  "Don't even think about it," Deacon warns, and Hale shakes his head at the not-so-veiled threat.

  "Don't worry. I appear to be losing my touch. She turned me down before I even got going good. The second I was making headway, Devin threw water on the fire - literally," Hale gripes.

  It was Devin. He brought that wave over us while trying to subdue Aphrodite because he thought I would be enticed by Hale. I almost smile at the jealous ass that broke my heart.

  "It wasn't heating up. Sorry. I was actually about to make you dance like a ballerina for my amusement. Devin spared you the humiliation by bringing down my Aphrodite high with the awakening wave," I confess.

  I see Devin's head turn slightly as he strains to eavesdrop on our light conversation. I smirk slightly as Hale huffs louder.

  "So nothing?" he pouts.

  "Nothing," I giggle out. "Are you sure you're an aphrodisiac in flesh?"

  He scowls at me, and Devin actually lets a small laugh escape from a distance.

  "Have you not ever wondered where the term sexy-as-Hale came from?" he smugly releases with an insulted, defensive rattle.

  "Oh. I just thought it was sexy-as-hell - as in the devil's home," I murmur dismissively.

  "What's sexy about that place? The saying stemmed from me," he gripes.

  Everyone around us releases a small chuckle, and I shrug innocently.

  "Well, now I know where it came from," I laugh out as I watch the fumes form around his body.

  "I thought Aphrodite was a sex goddess," he mumbles.

  "She wasn't a sex goddess, exactly, and I'm not Aphrodite. I'm a descendent, and I don't fall for guys who are more in love with themselves than they could ever love me. I don't fall for anyone anymore," I murmur, whispering the last part to myself.

  Devin turns and walks back into the cabin area once
he's heard all he needs to hear. I don't know why I feel the need to reassure him of my loyalty when he's proven his to be a joke.

  Camara's phone buzzes and she scowls as she reads the name I can't see.

  "What do you want?" she asks curtly, her face soured by whoever has just had the nerve to interrupt her day.

  I see why when I hear the voice on the other line.

  "I want to speak to Devin. He’s completely ignoring my phone calls, texts, emails, and every other form of technology he can use to rebuff my attempts to apologize. Please give him the phone," Gemma begs. "I need to tell him I'm sorry."

  "You're damn right you're sorry. Do you have any idea what a mess you've caused?" she chastises.

  "Yes I do. That's why I'm trying to apologize. Please put your wild-thing anger on hold for a minute, and give him the phone," Gemma pleads again.

  Camara hangs up her phone and shoves it in her pocket. Gemma really is in trouble. It actually makes me feel good to know how protective everyone is acting. I'm sure it's more for Devin than me, but it still makes me feel a little more like I belong.

  "The nerve," Camara growls.

  Deacon's phone buzzes and Camara snarls as he answers it.

  "You're not getting any sympathy from me either," Deacon says coolly.

  "I just want to fucking apologize. I can't own my mistake if he won't talk to me," she whines.

  "You should have thought about that before you tried to make Adisia think you slept with him in San Diego," he reprimands.

  Make me think she slept with him? She all but said the shit. It wasn't even a subtle insinuation. She dangled his watch in front of me like it was a flashing neon sign for the whole room to see.

  "If she's that easy to run off, then he doesn't need her. She doesn't love him like I do, or she wouldn't have fallen for that so easily," Gemma harps.

  With her words, a horrific realization slaps me in the face. It wasn't real. She fucking maliciously falsified that shit, and I fell for it. If he didn't do anything, then why did he keep it a secret?

  I don't know what's going on right now, and even if I did, now he won't even look at me.

  "Just let me talk to him, damn it. I'll tell everyone about that night in Belize if you don't. About how you cried when you saw that girly chick flick, and you said-"

  "Okay," Deacon yells to interrupt her before we hear anymore. "I'll give him the bloody phone."

  Devin reemerges once again as if on cue, and of course, he's toying with his own phone. Deacon walks over to hand him his phone with Gemma dangling on the other line like a Venus flytrap in waiting.

  I glare at him, waiting to see what he says to her. He looks up as the phone slides in front of his face.

  "Who is it?" he says curiously.

  "It's Gemma. She wants to apologize," Deacon stumbles out.

  "Oh," Devin says very naturally as he takes the phone.

  I almost start to pout, but instead of answering it, he very casually tosses over the edge and turns his attention back to his own phone while he leisurely strolls away.

  Deacon's mouth pops open as he stares into the water to watch his phone sink. I almost laugh, and I have to cover my mouth to suppress the sound.

  Camara giggles slightly as Deacon looks over to us while pointing helplessly at the water below.

  Kry's phone buzzes, and he hits the ignore option without hesitation. He shrugs as he looks at me.

  "I just got this phone," he says humorously.

  I snicker under my breath, and then Devin walks up and completely avoids eye contact with me.

  This is driving me crazy, and I don't know why. I've been avoiding him, so why can't I be thankful he's not making it harder on me to stay away.

  "Let's eat, and then we'll tell Aphrodisia about what we've learned in her absence," he says with his popsicle tone.

  He used my formal name as if he refuses to personalize me at all. Now I don't even know if I have the right to be mad. I've never been here before.

  The delicious food is gone, and it's just a small group of us sitting in the cabin.

  Devin is relaxed against the padded bench as he stares out the window at the water glistening under the sunset. He looks so comfortable, and he's so sexy in those damn jogging pants. I think he intentionally came in without a shirt on just to irk me.

  I cut my eyes away when he turns to catch me staring.

  He doesn't show any interest in my momentary weakness as he starts the conversation I've been waiting to hear. I'm almost offended by the business tone I once found so sexy. When he's using it on me, it's heartbreaking.

  "You were right about the daughters of Athena working with our anonymous puppet master. Camara was able to catch a peek at them for a brief bit. They know you're new, and they've been working tirelessly to find you so they can get to me. They view you as our weakest link because they underestimate what you're capable of. We're still not certain as to how they're finding us, but we think it could have something to do with the hunting abilities of the Athena girls. It's possible that's why they were recruited.

  "We've narrowed down the suspect pool for the puppet master, but there's still a broad array of people to sift through before we can start accusations. That's all we've got for now."

  He is cold, callous, and very formal. His eyes remove themselves from mine the moment he's done speaking, as if I never meant anything at all to him, and Kry pats him on the back as he stands up.

  "I'm going to grab some sleep on the deck," Kry says through a yawn.

  "I second that idea," Deacon says with a stretch.

  They all look so fatigued now that I think about it, except for Camara who has apparently slept for three days.

  "I'm going to sort through some of this. You can rest easy. It'll be a few days before we dock. The jets will carry us from there," Devin announces.

  "I'm riding in yours. The seats are so much more comfortable than Theia's," Kry says with a dramatic touch.

  Devin smirks lightly and props his feet up on the table as he starts writing on a notepad.

  I stand up with uncertainty carving itself into my body. I don't know whether to stay or go as the others disperse to the deck and other cabins.

  "Thank you," I murmur awkwardly.

  He doesn't even look up as he answers. "It's just stuff you needed to know. Nothing to be grateful for," he mumbles as he grips the pen too tightly, cracking it slightly under the strain.

  He takes a deep breath and tosses the pen down before grabbing another.

  "I meant for getting Clara out of the country and away from the crazy," I murmur.

  His fervent drawing ceases and his eyes look up to connect with mine. I can see the pain etched in them, and now I know why he's been avoiding my eyes so much. It almost hurts to see his aching.

  "Again, nothing to be grateful for. If I hadn't done it, Theia would have. She's not quite as cold as she appears to be," he murmurs mildly, making sure his tone doesn't match the sadness in his eyes.

  He doesn't allow his eyes to linger on mine for even a fraction of a second longer than necessary.

  I sigh as I walk by him, and my hand accidentally grazes his shoulder as the ship shifts. The wild sensation surges through me as Aphrodite begs me to give into the passion I've denied her for too long.

  He flinches against my lingering touch, and his whole body stiffens under my hand. I start to dive on him, kiss him, and rip his clothes off, but I fight the carnal desire burning, aching, and throbbing inside of me.

  I take a deep breath and let my hand slowly move away from his shoulder.

  He lets a breath escape as I walk out, and I do my best not to turn around. I'm worried he's watching, and I'll cave if I see those eyes staring into mine again.

  Almost everyone on the ship is asleep. The ridiculously huge yacht harnesses far more rooms than I've even seen.

  Devin hasn't come out of the cabin below, and I want to ask him about the pictures. It's been eating at me.

  Why w
ait until I'm gone to name a boat after me? Why wait until I'm gone to hang up a bunch of pictures of me? What really happened with Gemma?

  I suck in a gulp of air, and then I guzzle half a bottle of vodka that's been baking in the sun for far too long. I snarl my nose up at the hot beverage that should have never been left unattended for such an amount of time and then consumed.

  I gently turn the door to the room he was in last, and I see him sleeping on the couch with his notebook still clutched in his hands. About twenty pens have been snapped in half and tossed on the table to leave puddles of dripping ink.

  I can't help but smile and wonder if that was because of me.

  I tiptoe over to him, and ease the notebook from his hand. As soon as it's freed, his hand drops from the couch and grazes my bare leg on the way down.

  I'm still in my bikini, but there's not too much I can do about that. It's not like I planned on hauling ass out of San Diego.

  I stare at the cryptic writing in wild fascination for the crazy collage of random names with extended brackets to show more random names. The notebook is full of similar graphs on every page.

  "He's been working on that since you left. He's been searching under every rock to find you as well. This is the first time he's slept since you disappeared," Camara whispers as she joins me, breaking the silence in the room.

  I gasp lightly as he stirs and turns over on his side. I almost want to stroke his cheek, and tell him I love him. I miss him so much.

  "I've been gone a week. There's no way he's stayed awake that long," I argue.

  "Immortals can push the limits on sleep. He pushed all of ours. Everyone's exhausted. I collapsed the moment I found you. I couldn't have made it another day, but Kry, Ther, and Deacon have been awake with him the whole time. No one has put forth more effort to bring you back than Devin though."

  I sigh as I sit on the edge of the couch beside him.

  "Why did he name this boat after me? And why did he put pictures of me up in Paris when he knew he was sending Clara there? It seems like he's trying to sway my thinking by strategically placing things in places he knows will grab my attention. It's clever, but it's also pretty manipulative. I don't like manipulative," I gripe.